Fried Calamari Recipe

5 from 3 votes

This easy fried calamari recipe is one your whole family will enjoy! Calamari rings are soaked in milk to tenderize, coated in spiced flour and fried until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Perfection in every bite!

Prep Time30

Cook Time30

Total Time1

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Servings:

Author: Shadi HasanzadeNemati

Ingredients

1 lb calamari rings
1 cup milk
1 cup all purpose flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp oregano
Neutral flavored oil such as canola or grapeseed oil
Kosher salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

If using frozen calamari rings, make sure they're fully thawed and discard excess liquid.
Place the calamari rings in a bowl and add the milk. Make sure the milk covers all the calamari rings. Let them soak in the fridge for 30 minutes.
In a plate mix the flour and cornstarch with paprika, black pepper and oregano.
Dredge each calamari ring in the flour mixture and make sure it's fully coated. Place on a plate and set aside.
Fill a small saucepan up to 3-4 inches with oil and place on medium high heat. The oil should reach 350 degrees F which would take about 10 to 15 minutes. You can use an instant read thermometer to read the temperature or drop one of the calamari rings into the saucepan. If it starts bubbling and floats to the surface it means that the oil is hot enough.
Once the oil is hot, place a few flour coated calamari rings into the saucepan and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until they are golden brown.
Transfer the fried calamari to a cooling rack, season with salt and fry the rest of the rings. Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

If using whole calamari, slice them into 1/2 inch rings and then proceed with the recipe.
If using frozen calamari rings, make sure they're completely thawed before making the recipe.
It's best to use whole milk to soak the calamari. You can also use buttermilk.

Nutrition